This message came from a private inner conversation with Archangel Gabriel which perhaps has relevance for all of us who wonder how we are progressing spiritually. In this, Gabriel illuminates the unhelpful way we tend to compare and compete with others, based on our schooling tradition.

I love it that s/he knows me so well… and sees the insecurities and competition that I would hide as being “immature”, meanwhile continuing to seek for some yardstick to measure my growth. How can we measure or quantify our learning without reference to another?

We can’t. And so competition continues to be a source of tension and stress, defeating the reunion with our Self as love. I admit I tend to read other channels and wonder if my channeling has value for others. Gabriel’s clarity and tenderness offers healing to this part of me and by sharing transparently, I am extending the healing to you.

The image of the torus at the end is very descriptive of this inner becoming outer and outer becoming inner as we all progress forward in love (how could we not be progressing? It is the nature of Life! :-)

My love and blessings to all of my Earth siblings. Enjoy! Jennifer

Who would like to speak?
I Am Gabriel. I relish this connection with you, Divine One, as you aspire to your ascension… you wonder - we do hear your thoughts, you know - you wonder if you are progressing favorably for your re-union with All that You are, and I am taking this opening you have given me to have this private chat with you.

You are Love, yes? Yes.
So, that is a huge progression from when that would have sent your mind and emotions into a flurry of qualification, but, no longer, you see? It is a journey, but there are absolutely no rules about how fast one must proceed along the path of each one’s ascension. It is not a race, NOR is it helpful to compare oneself with others - ever.

You have been taught to keep one eye on the teacher and the other on your class-mates (or “competition-mates”) - living up to imagined or stated expectation, or not and thereby failing. You still cling to the old, subconscious habit of comparing, competing and holding “expectations” that have been formulated by your teachers - those that have been in a position to evaluate your progress.

Archangel Gabriel

Would you call me a teacher to you?
Most certainly, my beloved Gabriel, in that you know my heart and you know my Being more clearly than I do myself at this point.
Well. Then. I will tell you.

You are a shining example - TO YOURSELF - of intention, choice, action to become the Love that you yourself believe you to be. You know your world does not teach this.

In fact much you have learned has acted to obscure this aspect of self - this essential nature of self - it has kept it hidden.

To whom was it [the world] going to teach the truth? Only to the special ones? Only to the ones who were quickest, most clever, most deserving, most intellectually brilliant?

No, not to any of these was the world going to teach the truth. The world cannot bestow what it does not have, know, express. The world reflects the inner conflict of human-kind.

Whenever you find yourself out of balance, or out of charity with yourself, return to the simple remembrance of your essence as love; rekindle this memory, first for yourself, then share the flame with others wherever you are in your every moment.

Are you not love? Why not? Because you sometimes express from a belief in all the ways that love is not - all the practices that separate you from Truth. The Truth is Love. There is no greater truth, and deep within, you know this to your core.

Remember and be your own natural, miraculous dance of love expressed in all directions, love within and love without, love above and love below, love before and love behind, love on each hand.

Your hands gather love from your core and stretch out and offer love extended to all, any and every other being, until the sharing is continuous and the inside is outside in a dynamic flow.

My energy for writing is subsiding…
Yes, it is time we stopped for now. Great blessings to you, my beloved one.
Thank you for this time together.
I am always here for you and am one of your guardians & teachers.
Thank you Gabriel. I love you too.

Source:http://oraclesandhealers.wordpress.com/2013/07/19/gabriel-one-eye-on-the-teacher/